The tone began to nettle the young man, who was not accustomed to being spoken to so imperiously before strangers.
"No one told me, sir. I didn't ask permission. I'm my own master. I've left your employ."
"The devil you have! Since when?"
"Since this morning. I couldn't tell you, because when you left the office after I'd given you the tickets you didn't come back."
"And do you call that decent to a man who's— But no matter!" He pointed to the seat next his own. "Where's the—the lady who's been sitting here?"
Mr. Strangways raised his eyebrows innocently, and shook his head.
"I haven't seen any lady, sir."
"What? There must have been a lady here. Was to have got on at One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street."
"Possibly; I only say I didn't see her. As a matter of fact, I've been reading, and I don't think I looked round during the entire journey. Hadn't we better not speak so loud?" he suggested, in a lower tone. "People are listening to us."
"Oh, let them go to— Now look here, Strangways," he began again, speaking softly, but excitedly, "there must be some explanation to this."